Flush valve assembly



H. A. FULToN ET AL 2,945,239

July 19, 1960 FLUSH .VALVE ASSEMBLY Filed Sept. 8, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1July 19, 1960 H. A. FULTON ETAL FLUSH VALVE ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Sept. 8, 1958 Y 2,945,239 AFLUSH VALVE ASSEMBLY Howard A. Fultonand Ira Glenn Henry, Perrysville, Ohio, assignors to Mansfield SanitaryPottery, Inc., Big i' Prairie, Ohio, a corporation of 0hio Y Filed Sept.8, 1958, Ser. No. 759,452

4 Claims. (Cl. 4-58) This invention relates broadly to water-closets,and

more specifically to improvements in flush valves therefor. A'One of theobjects ofthe invention is to provide a valve which is constructed iforseated engagement on the bottom wall or floor'of the flush tank Vso ytheentire contents of the reservoir will be discharged when the valve islifted to effect thefflushing operation.

fAnother object of the invention is to provide a valve stern of tubularform which not only supports the valve plate, but valso comprises anoverllow pipe for the tank.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision ofj aguide'frame for supporting the valve stem in a verticalA position duringthe reciprocative movement thereof.

` Further objects of the invention are to provide a liush valve assemblyembodying fewer parts than like -valves heretofore in use, a valve.which is economic of -manufacture,fe icient of operation and anorganization of parts that "may be assembled with ease and dispatch.

r"Other objects and advantages more or less ancillary to the' foregoing,and the manner in which all the various objects are realized, willappear in the `following descripltion, which consideredY in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, sets forth the preferred embodiment ofthe invention. l

Referring to the drawings: 4 j

Fig. rl is a plan view of a ilush tank having the top removed.`therefrom, embodying the improved valve and valve stern supporting frametherefor;

, Fig.` 2is a vertical sectional view of the tank illustrating the valveand associated parts;

Fig. Bis a vertical sectionalview of` a fragmentary portion of atankillustratingan alternate form of the improved valve stem supportingframe;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 illustrating another modiliedformofthe valve stem supporting frame; i Y

' FigfS is a similar sectional view illustrating a further modificationof the valve stem support;

Fig. 6 is a view in perspective illustrating the valve stem guide Shownin Fig. 3; and

Fig. 7 is a view in perspective illustrating the valve guide frame shownin Fig. 5.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the improved watercloset comprises aporcelain tank 10, preferably of prismoidal form, having an opening 11in the base thereof for a tubular rubber outlet thimble 12. The tank hasa second smaller hole 14 for a bolt 15 that supports a guide bracket 16a hollow plastic toric shell constituting a float 17 and a tubular valvestem 18. The lower end of the thimble is of frusto-conical form andprotrudes beyond the lower face of the base of the tank, and the upperend thereof is cylindrical and formed with a `shoulder -19 that is aixedin sealed relation in the opening 11 in the tank. The upper end Ztl ofthe cylindrical portion of the thimble is iush with the inner face ofthe bottom wall of the tank. The valve 21 comprises a circular rubberdisc constructed with a frusto-conical .llange 22 which is tapered fromits hub 23 to a paper ice thin circumferential edge 24. 'Ihelowerconcave face of the valve is normally engaged with the base offloor of the tank 10. The hub of the valve is formed with a boss on theupper face thereof having an inwardly tapered opening 26 therein whichis retained by a frusto-conical 'ring 27 molded on the base of a toricfloat or shell 17 for the support of the valve in its elevated positionwhen the valve stem 18 is actuated to lift the valve olf its seat. Thelower face of the ring 27 is formed with a lateral flange 30 thereonwhich is engaged with a shoulder 29 in the lower face of the valve hub23. The ring 27 is integral with the hollow toric shell 17 and isrigidly secured to the valve stem |18 which is preferably formedof amolded plastic material lsuch `as Bakelite. The outlet opening 31 in thethimble 12 is provided with a-split metal ring 32 to assure thesecurement of the .thimble in in the opening 11, and the lower end ofthe valve stem 18 Vis provided with a rubber sleeve 33 having a ilange34 on the lower end thereof to choke the inrush-of water into` thechamber within the shell n17. o The valve stem 1S is guided for axialmovement by horizontal arms 35 that straddle a vertical arm 37 on thebracket 16 secured to the lower wall of the tank 10. The lower leg 40 ofthe bracket 16 is pierced for the reception of the bolt -15, and awasher 43 is provided under the bracket to seal the opening 14. Thebracket has a vertical slot 44 in i-ts upper leg.37, and a cross pin 45to guide the movement of the valve stem when the valve is lifted fromits seat. The upper end of the valve stem is cross-drilled for thereception of a pin 46 threaded at one side into the side wall of thetube and pivotally connected at the other side of the tube to a lhandle47 connected to theshank of an armA 48 in the -side wall of theupperportion of the tank. -The arm and lever comprise generally a bell crankstructure of the form customarily employed in flush tanks ofconventional form. A

The upper end of the valve stem 18 is provided with a cap 49 having anopening 50 in the upper wall thereof that forms an overflow outlet. Thecap is held -in place by the pin 46 in the skirt of the-cap on theVupper end of the tube. I Y 4 AThe modified form illustrated in Fig. 3 issimilar in all respects to the disclosure in Fig. 1, save only that thebracket 60 for guiding the valve stem tubelS Ycomprises a rod 61=havingarcuate end portions 62 that partially encircle the -tube f18 with aslight clearance. The rod 60 is bent at a right angle 63 adjacent theupper end thereof and is rebent laterally adjacent'the base of Ythe.tank to-form a foot 64. The foot is formed with a circular loop orvring 65 for the reception of amachine screw or bolt `secured in themanner shown in Fig.`1.

The bracket illustrated in the alternate form of Fig. 4 is similar tothe guide bracket of Fig. 1, except in this case, a yoke 70 straddlesthe float 17 and the free ends of the yoke are fulcrumed on pintles 71in the wall of the iioat shell 17. The center of the yoke 70 has alateral arm 72 secured thereto which is pivoted adjacent its outer endto a vertical arm 73 of the right angle bracket 74. The lower leg 75 ofthe bracket is bolted to the base of the tank in the manner heretoforedescribed in connection with Fig. 1.

The bracket shown in Figs. 5 and 7 is similar to the bracket of Fig. 4,but the -arms of the yoke are formed of molded rubber and the foot 81thereof is clamped by a machine screw or the bolt 15 to the base of thetank. Flexure of the arms Will occur in the right angle bend 82 adjacentthe foot of the bracket when the the tube is elevated by the trip lever47.

In each case, the weight of the water in the tank will hold the valve 21is sealed seated relation with thebase or floor of the tank until thearm is actuated by lifting the valve stem tube 18. When the valve `stein18 is elevated, Water in the tank will flow through the outlet opening31 in the thim-ble 12 and the rush of Water, together with the buoyancyof the. oat. 17, will maintain thelvalve in itsv open position until allof the water is drained from the tank and the valve andstem 18 descendby gravity and effectuates the reseated position of the valve Z1. s s

It is not necessary for the yguide bracket assemblies to hold the valvestem in accurate vertical alignment with the axis of the `dischargeopening in the thimble, since the diameter of the valve 21 is greaterthan the diameter of the opening 3.1 aud misalignment of approximatelyplus or minus one-eighth of -an inch will not impair the functionaloperation of the valve.

Although the foregoing .description is necessarily of a ldetailedcharacter, in order that the invention may be completely set forth, itis to be understood that the speciiic ,terminology is not intended to berestrictive or coniining, [and that various rearrangements of parts andmodications of detail -may be resorted to without departing from thevscope or spirit of the invention as herein claimed.

What is claimed is: Y

1. A ush valve assembly for a Water closet comprising a Water tankhaving jan outlet opening in the base thereof, a smooth flat integraliioor in the tank circumambient said outlet opening constituting a valveseat, a rubber valve disc of the poppet valve type seated on the portionof the oorsurrounding said outlet opening, 4the lower face of said valvebeing normally concave and deformed into a substantially flat disc .whenthe valve is disposed in its seated position, a hollow annular oatsecured upon the upper faceof said valve, a tube having openings in eachend thereof secured to said float, said tube constituting a valvestemand an overllow pipe, means pivotally connected to the top of said valvestem to Elift said valve from its seat, a bracket atlixed to the oor ofsaid tank remote said outlet opening, `and a horizontal arm pivotallyconnected to said float for and attached to said bracket guiding saidvalve stem in a substantially vertical path fupon elevation of saidvalve stem.

2. A ush valve assembly for a water closet comprising a water tankhaving an outlet opening in the base thereof, a smooth flat integral oorin the tank circumambient said outlet opening constituting a valve seat,a rubber valve disc of the poppetv valve type seated on the portion ofthe floor surrounding said outlet opening, the lower face of said valvebeing normally concave and deformed into a substantially at disc whenthe valve is disposed in its vseated position, a hollow annular floatsecured to the upper face of said valve, a tube having openings in eachend thereof secured to said oat, said tube constituting a valve stem andan overflow pipe, means pivotally connected to the top of said valvestem to lift said valve from its seat, a bracket aflxed to the floor ofsaid tank remote said outlet opening, -an arm movably connected to -saidfloat and aflixed to the floor of said tank for guiding said valve stemin a substantially vertical path upon actuation of said valve stem.

3. A ush valve assembly` lfor a Water closet comprising a water tankhaving an outlet opening in the base thereof, a smooth at integral floor1in the tank circumambient said outlet opening constituting'a valveseat,` a rubber valve disc of the poppet valve type seated on theportion of the floor surrounding. said outlet opening, the lower face ofsaid valve being normally concave and deformable into a substantiallyiat dise when the valve is seated, a hollow annular iioat secured to theupper face of said valve, a tube having openings in each end thereofsecured to said oat, said tube constituting a valve stem and Tanoverflow pipe, means pivotally connected to the top of said valve stemto lift said valve from its seat, a bracket aixed to the Hoor of saidtank remote said outlet opening, a horizontal arm pivotally connected tosaid float and movable vertically 4in said bracket for guiding saidvalve stem in a substantially vertical path when said valve stem islifted. v

4. A ush valve assembly lfor a water closet comprising arwater tankhaving an outlet opening in the base thereof, a smooth flat floor insaid tank circumambient said outlet opening constituting a valve seat, arubber valve disc ofthe poppet valve 4type seated on the portion of thefloor surrounding said outlet opening, said valve being normally concaveand `deformable into a substantially iiat disc when lthe valve isdisposed in its seated position, a hollowlannular iloat'secnred on theupper face of said valvea tube having openings in leach end thereofsecured to said float, said tubeiconstitutingY-a valve Stem and anoverflow pipe, means pivotallyconnected to the top of said valve stem tolift said valve from its seat, a bracket aixed to the oor of said tankremote said outlet opening, and 4an arm on said bracket connected tosaid float for guiding said valve stem in a substantially vertical pathupon elevation of said valve stem.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 549,378Lymbnrner Nov. 5, 1895 1,878,613 Werner e Sept. 20, 1932 1,890,281Dollinger Dec. 6, 1932 2,444,958 Smith `Iuly 13, 1948 2,520,574 SmithAug. 29, 1950 2,693,601 Smith Nov. 9, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 640,442Germ-any Ian. 4, 1937

